Method and Apparatus for Selecting a Real Time Location Service Provider

1. A method for selecting a real time location service provider, the method comprising: processing a request for a position of a portable electronic device, where the request identifies at least one local access point and a connected cellular communication cell to which the device is operatively connected; matching the connected cellular communication cell with a listed cellular communication cell, where the listed cellular communication cell is associated with the real time location service provider and with a plurality of registered access points; matching the at least one local access point with at least one registered access point in the plurality of registered access points; and selecting the real time location service provider based on an association of the at least one registered access point with the real time location service provider.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for a position of the portable electronic device further identifies a plurality of local access points and received signal strength values of signals received at the portable electronic device from each local access point in the plurality of local access points.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the received signal strength values are used to identify a position of the portable electronic device when the real time location service provider is unable to fix a location of the portable electronic device.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein matching the at least one local access point with at least one access point in the plurality of registered access points associated with the available cellular communication cell comprises matching the plurality of local access points with access points in the plurality of registered access points.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed at a Secure User Plane Location Center.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the Secure User Plane Location Center functions as a proxy server between a Secure User Plane Location Positioning Center for real time location services and a Secure User Plane Location Positioning Center for Global Positioning System services.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the real time location service provider is a Secure User Plane Location Positioning Center for real time location services.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein a Secure User Plane Location Platform comprises the Secure User Plane Location Positioning Center for real time location services.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the method is performed in response to a Mobile Terminated Location Request.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed in response to a Mobile Originated Location Request.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed in response to a Network Initiated Location Request.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method conforms to an Open Mobile Alliance Secure User Plane Location standard.

13. A Secure User Plane Location Center comprising: a computer processor; a computer-readable memory; the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause: processing a request for a position of a portable electronic device, where the request identifies at least one local access point and a connected cellular communication cell to which the device is operatively connected; matching the connected cellular communication cell with a listed cellular communication cell, where the listed cellular communication cell is associated with the real time location service provider and with a plurality of registered access points; matching the at least one local access point with at least one registered access point in the plurality of registered access points; and selecting the real time location service provider based on an association of the at least one registered access point with the real time location service provider.

14. The Secure User Plane Location Center of claim 13 , wherein the request for a position of the portable electronic device further identifies a plurality of local access points and received signal strength values of signals received at the portable electronic device from each local access point in the plurality of local access points.

15. The Secure User Plane Location Center of claim 14 , wherein the received signal strength values are used to identify a position of the portable electronic device when the real time location service provider is unable to fix a location of the portable electronic device.

16. The Secure User Plane Location Center of claim 14 , wherein matching the at least one local access point with at least one access point in the plurality of registered access points associated with the available cellular communication cell comprises matching the plurality of local access points with access points in the plurality of registered access points.

17. The Secure User Plane Location Center of claim 13 , wherein the Secure User Plane Location Center functions as a proxy server between a Secure User Plane Location Positioning Center for real time location services and a Secure User Plane Location Positioning Center for Global Positioning System services.

18. The Secure User Plane Location Center of claim 13 , wherein the real time location service provider is a Secure User Plane Location Positioning Center for real time location services.

19. The Secure User Plane Location Center of claim 13 , wherein the Secure User Plane Location Center conforms to an Open Mobile Alliance Secure User Plane Location standard.

20. An apparatus for selecting a real time location service provider, the apparatus comprising: means for processing a request for a position of a portable electronic device, where the request identifies at least one local access point and a connected cellular communication cell to which the device is operatively connected; means for matching the connected cellular communication cell with a listed cellular communication cell, where the listed cellular communication cell is associated with the real time location service provider and with a plurality of registered access points; means for matching the at least one local access point with at least one registered access point in the plurality of registered access points; and means for selecting the real time location service provider based on an association of the at least one registered access point with the real time location service provider.